Travel pillow

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a U-shaped travel pillow having a base cushion and raised cushion fixed to the top side of the base cushion. The inner peripheral walls of the base and raised cushions are mutually flush, while the rear walls are mutually flush and substantially flat for better contact with flat surfaces, such as a headrest, seat, or chair. Furthermore, the rear wall of the raised cushion is thinner than the sides, providing more liberty to adjust head position by easily adapting to the shape of the headrest, seat or chair. A removable cover is adapted to cover the base and raised cushions, while a drawstring with an adjustable cinch mechanism can be used for adjusting the travel pillow around the neck.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit and is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/488,443, filed on Jun. 4, 2012, and claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/623,545, filed on Apr.12, 2012, each of which is fully incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to pillows, and more particularly to a travelpillow.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

A pillow generally provides support for the head and neck, typically ina laying position. A travel pillow, conversely, is designed to providesupport for the head and neck while seated, as is common during longautomobile, train, and airplane trips. A travel pillow is generally “U”shaped and is adapted to fit around the neck of a person. A travelpillow can prevent neck strain and promote comfort by supporting aperson's neck and head vertically.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,349 to Silver et al. on May 15, 2001, describes atravel pillow having a compact size and U-shape for cradling the headand neck of a user while sitting. This device is adapted to allow theuser to allow or remove fill material in order to adjust firmness. Whilethis invention is capable of providing neck support, it does not provideadequate neck support in left, right, and forward positions.Furthermore, this travel pillow will force the person's head forward,causing neck strain.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,347 to Kantor on Aug. 24, 1982, describes a cushionhaving a U-shaped portion for supporting the head and neck of a userwhile sitting. This device is adapted to accept a sleeve to cover partsof the cushion that will touch skin or hair, and includes weights forbalancing the device on the shoulders. While this invention is capableof providing neck support, it does not provide adequate neck support inleft, right, and forward positions and is not adapted to prevent anextreme forward head position.

U.S. Pat. No. 98,859 to Fast on Jan. 18, 1870, describes a travel pillowhaving a cushion for promoting the comfort of passengers whiletraveling. This device comprises an inflatable semi-circular cushion anda strap adapted to form the cushion around the neck by applying downwardforce with the arms. While this invention is capable of providing necksupport, it does not provide adequate neck support in left, right, andforward positions and is not adapted to prevent an extreme forward headposition.

While several travel pillows exist in the prior art, few provideadequate support for alternative head positions. Furthermore, travelpillows are notorious for forcing the head forward, causing neck strain.Finally, current travel pillows do not adequately support a frontposition due to the gap of the “U” shape. Therefore, there is a need fora travel pillow that can provide adequate neck support for all headpositions without causing undue strain. Furthermore, a need exists for atravel pillow that will not force the head forward in a rearwardposition. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a travel pillow comprising a U-shaped,pliable base cushion with a second U-shaped raised cushion fixed to thetop side of the base cushion. The inner peripheral walls of the base andraised cushions are mutually flush, providing a comfortable surface forthe neck. Furthermore, the rear walls of the base and raised cushionsare mutually flush and substantially flat for better contact with flatsurfaces, such as a headrest, seat, or chair. The rear wall of theraised cushion is thinner than each side portion of the raised cushion,providing more liberty to adjust head position by easily adapting to theshape of the headrest, seat or chair. A removable cover is adapted tocover the base and raised cushions. The cover is reversible, where theoutside of the cover has a contrasting appearance to the inside of thecover.

The raised cushion is ergonomically designed to comfortably fit aroundthe neck without causing undue strain. Furthermore, the raised cushionis adapted to prevent interfere with a person wearing headphones.Pockets can be positioned on the outside and bottom of the base cushionfor storing electronic devices and other objects. A drawstring with anadjustable cinch mechanism can be used for adjusting the travel pillowaround the neck.

The U-shape of the travel pillow is generally intended to providingsupport to the head while traveling. As such, the base cushion andraised cushions are integrally formed from a memory foam materialadapted to fit securely, yet comfortably, around the neck, providingadequate ergonomic support to the head when seated in an uprightposition. The travel pillow can be shaped like an animal, character, orsports team logo.

The present device is a travel pillow that can provide adequate necksupport for all head positions without causing undue strain.Furthermore, a need exists for a travel pillow that will not force thehead forward in a rearward position. Other features and advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent from the following moredetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof, a drawstring illustrated inFIG. 1 omitted for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of an alternate embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.;

FIG. 5 is a left-side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, thedrawstring omitted for clarity of illustration; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of another embodiment of the invention, thedrawstring omitted for clarity of illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. Thefollowing explanation provides specific details for a thoroughunderstanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. Oneskilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practicedwithout such details. In other instances, well-known structures andfunctions have not been shown or described in detail to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or pluralnumber also include the plural or singular number respectively.Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similarimport, when used in this application, shall refer to this applicationas a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Whenthe claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or moreitems, that word covers all of the following interpretations of theword: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and anycombination of the items in the list.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a travel pillow 10 comprising a U-shaped,pliable base cushion 20 having a top side 28, bottom side 22, outerperipheral wall 29, inner peripheral wall 21, rear wall 27, and a pairof opposing front walls 23. A U-shaped raised cushion 30 is fixed to thetop side 28 of the base cushion 20. The raised cushion 30 comprises atop side 38, bottom side 32, outer peripheral wall 39, and innerperipheral wall 31, all defining a rear portion 37 and two opposing sideportions 35 of the raised cushion 30 (FIG. 4). The inner peripheralwalls 21, 31 of the base and raised cushions 20, 30 are mutually flush,providing a comfortable surface for the neck.

The top side 38 of the base cushion 20 is substantially flat, while thetop side 38 of the raised cushion 30 is curved (FIG. 2) or flat (FIG. 3)between the inner and outer peripheral walls 31, 39 thereof. The rearwalls 27, 37 of the base and raised cushions 20, 30 are mutually flush(FIG. 4) and substantially flat for better contact with flat surfaces,such as a headrest or chair (not shown). Furthermore, the outerperipheral wall 39 of the raised portion 30 may extend higher than theinner peripheral wall 31 of the opposing side portions 35 (FIG. 2),while the outer and inner peripheral walls 39, 31 of the rear portion 37are substantially the same height. The rear wall 37 of the raisedcushion 30 is thinner than each side portion 35 (FIG. 4), providing moreliberty to adjust head position by easily adapting to the shape of theheadrest, seat or chair.

A selectively removable fabric cover 40 is adapted to cover the base andraised cushions 20,30, and includes an opening 50 at a bottom side 42thereof (FIG. 5). In the preferred embodiment, the fabric cover 40 isreversible, where a first side 41 of the cover 40 has a contrastingappearance to a second side 42 (FIG. 1) of the cover 40. In analternative embodiment, the base cushion 20 and the raised cushion 30are selectively mutually detachable (FIG. 3) at a first attachmentmechanism 130, such as a zipper (not shown), two-part hook-and-loop typematerial 150, button, and/or mechanical snap 160. As such, the fabriccover 40 is adapted to cover the base cushion 20, while a second fabriccover 140 (FIG. 3) is adapted to cover the raised cushion 30. The fabriccover 40 may be machine washable, so as to allow for cleaning of thecover 40 from sweat or other grime.

The raised cushion 30 includes a pair of opposing recesses 90 (FIG. 1)on the inner peripheral wall 31 of each side portion 35, whereby theraised cushion 30 does not interfere with a person wearing headphones.Furthermore, the outer peripheral wall 29 of the base cushion 20includes at least one pocket 100 for holding an item 15. In analternative embodiment, the bottom side 22 (FIG. 6) of the base cushion20 further includes at least one pocket 120 for receiving a second item16.

The travel pillow 10 can be used in a first position, where the user canlay his head back on the device 10, or a second position 180-degreesrotated, where the user's chin is supported at a chin support 170 (FIG.1). Clearly the user can rotate the travel pillow 10 to any suitable andcomfortably position as needed, the raised cushion 30 providing varyingheights of support to the user's neck and chin, To provide morecustomization, a drawstring 60 is adapted to adjust the fitting of thetravel pillow 10 around the neck. The drawstring 60 has opposing ends65, each end fixed proximate one of the front walls 23 of the basecushion 20.

The drawstring 60 further comprises an adjustable cinch mechanism 70 foradjusting the tension in the drawstring 60. The cinch mechanism 70 maybe adjusted until the front peripheral walls 23 of the base cushion 20are brought into mutual contact. As such, the travel pillow 10 may befurther used as a massage pillow wherein the raised cushion 30 supportsthe user's face while allowing the user to breathe freely and lay on hisstomach. Alternately, the travel pillow 10 in such a configuration maybe used as a so-called “massage” or “sun tanning” support for a user'sface or the back of the user's head, respectively, while laying eitherface-down or face-up on a surface.

The U-shape of the travel pillow 10 is generally intended to providingsupport to the head while traveling. As such, the base cushion 20 andraised cushion 30, in one embodiment, are integrally formed from a foammaterial 110 adapted to fit securely, yet comfortably, around the neck,providing adequate ergonomic support to the head when seated in anupright position. In the preferred embodiment, the foam material 110 isa memory foam material, with the device 10 having overall dimensions of10″×10″×5″, although any suitable material and size may be used. Othermaterials include fabrics, air, beads, polyester, grains, aromatherapymaterial, gels, and other fluids.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be apparent that various modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, an electrical heating and massaging device may be incorporatedto provide heat and massage to the neck. Additionally, the travel pillow10 may be shaped like an animal, cartoon character, sports team logo, orother novelty shape. Accordingly, it is not intended that the inventionbe limited, except as by the appended claims.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspectsof the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology isbeing redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics,features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology isassociated. In general, the terms used in the following claims shouldnot be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodimentsdisclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Descriptionsection explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope ofthe invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but alsoall equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention.

The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned inthis disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, theinvention are described above for illustrative purposes, variousequivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention,as those skilled in the relevant recognize. Also, the teachings of theinvention provided herein can be applied to other systems, notnecessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of thevarious embodiments described above can be combined to provide furtherembodiments.

All of the above patents and applications and other references,including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, areincorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can bemodified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and conceptsof the various references described above to provide yet furtherembodiments of the invention.

Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above “DetailedDescription.” While the above description details certain embodiments ofthe invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter howdetailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced inmany ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably whilestill being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As notedabove, particular terminology used when describing certain features oraspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that theterminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specificcharacteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which thatterminology is associated.

While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certainclaim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of theinvention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventorreserves the right to add additional claims after filing the applicationto pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A substantially U-shaped travel pillow,comprising: a first side portion comprising a first base side portionand a first raised side portion, said first raised side portioncomprising a first raised top surface; a second side portion comprisinga second base side portion and a second raised side portion, an innersurface of said second side portion facing an inner surface of saidfirst side portion, said second raised side portion comprising a secondraised top surface; and a rear portion between said first and secondside portions, said rear portion comprising a base rear portion and araised rear portion, said raised rear portion thinner than each of saidfirst raised side portion and said second raised side portion; whereinsaid base rear portion comprises a base rear inner wall and a base rearouter wall; wherein said raised rear portion comprises a raised rearinner wall and a raised rear outer wall, said raised rear inner wall andsaid raised rear outer wall being substantially the same height, saidraised rear outer wall continuous with said base rear outer wall; andwherein the combination of said base rear outer wall and said raisedrear outer wall comprises a substantially flat surface.
 2. Thesubstantially U-shaped travel pillow of claim 1, wherein said raisedrear portion is less than half the thickness of each of said first andsecond raised side portions.
 3. The substantially U-shaped travel pillowof claim 1, wherein said first raised side portion is on less than allof said first base side portion and said second raised side portion ison less than all of said second base side portion.
 4. The substantiallyU-shaped travel pillow of claim 1, further comprising a cover over saidfirst side portion, said second side portion, said rear portion.
 5. Thesubstantially U-shaped travel pillow of claim 1, wherein saidsubstantially flat surface is substantially planar.
 6. The substantiallyU-shaped travel pillow of claim 1, wherein said substantially flatsurface is substantially vertical.
 7. The substantially U-shaped travelpillow of claim 1, wherein said substantially flat surface issubstantially flat from left to right.
 8. The substantially U-shapedtravel pillow of claim 1, wherein said raised rear portion is shaped todefine a chin support when said pillow is used in a substantially180-degrees rotated position.
 9. The substantially U-shaped travelpillow of claim 1, further comprising a drawstring and an adjustablecinch mechanism attached to said drawstring; wherein said cinchmechanism is adjustable such that said first side portion and saidsecond side portion may be brought into mutual contact.
 10. Thesubstantially U-shaped travel pillow of claim 1, wherein said raisedrear portion is curved between said raised rear inner wall and saidraised rear outer wall.
 11. The substantially U-shaped travel pillow ofclaim 10, wherein said first raised top surface and said second raisedtop surface are curved.
 12. The substantially U-shaped travel pillow ofclaim 1, wherein said first raised top surface and said second raisedtop surface are flat.
 13. A travel pillow comprising: a U-shaped,pliable base cushion having a top side, a bottom side, an innerperipheral wall, a pair of opposing front walls, and an outer peripheralwall comprising a rear wall; a U-shaped raised cushion having a topside, a bottom side, an inner peripheral wall, and an outer peripheralwall comprising a rear wall, all defining a rear portion and twoopposing side portions of the raised cushion, the raised cushion fixedwith the top side of the base cushion, the rear portion of the raisedcushion being thinner than each side portion of the raised cushion;wherein the rear walls of the base and raised cushions are continuouswith one another and are substantially flat from left to right; whereinthe raised cushions of the inner and outer peripheral walls haveapproximately equal heights at corresponding points along the rearportion of the raised cushion; and wherein the travel pillow is adaptedto fit around a user's neck and wherein the based and raised cushionsare made of a memory foam material.
 14. The travel pillow of claim 13,wherein the rear portion of the raised cushion is considerably thinnerthan each side portion of the raised cushion.
 15. The travel pillow ofclaim 14, wherein the rear portion of the raised cushion is less thanhalf the thickness of each side portion of the raised cushion.
 16. Thetravel pillow of claim 13, wherein the raised cushion is on less thanall of the top side of the base cushion.
 17. The travel pillow of claim13, wherein the rear portion of the raised cushion is shaped to define achin support when the pillow is used in a substantially 180-degreesrotated position.
 18. The travel pillow of claim 13, further comprisinga cover over the base and raised cushions.
 19. The travel pillow ofclaim 13, wherein the raised cushion is integral with the base cushion.20. The travel pillow of claim 13, wherein the combination of the rearwalls of the base and raised cushions comprises a surface that issubstantially vertical and substantially flat from top to bottom. 21.The travel pillow of claim 13, wherein the raised cushion inner andouter peripheral walls have approximately equal heights at correspondingpoints along the two opposing side portions of the raised cushion. 22.The travel pillow of claim 13, wherein the top sides of the two opposingside portions of the raised cushion are flat between the inner and outerperipheral walls.
 23. The travel pillow of claim 13, wherein the topsides of the two opposing side portions of the raised cushion are curvedbetween the inner and outer peripheral walls.
 24. The travel pillow ofclaim 23, wherein the top side of the raised cushion at the rear portionthereof is curved between the inner peripheral wall and the rear wall.25. The travel pillow of claim 13, wherein the top side of the raisedcushion at the rear thereof is curved between the inner peripheral walland the rear wall.
 26. A travel pillow cushion, comprising: a first sideportion comprising a first base side portion and a first raised sideportion, said first raised side portion comprising a first raised topsurface, said first side portion comprising a first inner peripheralwall portion and a first outer peripheral wall portion; a second sideportion comprising a second base side portion and a second raised sideportion, said second raised side portion comprising a second raised topsurface, said second side portion comprising a second inner peripheralwall portion and a second outer peripheral wall portion, said secondinner peripheral wall portion facing said first inner peripheral wallportion; and a rear portion between said first and second side portions,said rear portion thinner than each of said first side portion and saidsecond side portion, said rear portion comprising a rear inner wall anda rear outer wall; wherein said rear outer wall is substantially planar;wherein said rear portion is shaped to define a chin support when saidpillow is used in a substantially 180-degrees rotated position; whereinsaid first raised top surface is curved between said first innerperipheral wall portion and said first outer peripheral wall portion,and said second raised top surface is curved between said second innerperipheral wall portion and said second outer peripheral wall portion;and wherein said rear inner wall and said rear outer wall haveapproximately equal heights at corresponding points along said rearportion.
 27. The travel pillow cushion of claim 26, wherein said firstinner peripheral wall portion and said first outer peripheral wallportion have approximately equal heights at corresponding points alongsaid first side portion, said second inner peripheral wall portion andsaid second outer peripheral wall portion have approximately equalheights at corresponding points along said second side portion, and saidrear portion is curved between said rear inner wall and said rear outerwall.
 28. The travel pillow of claim 26, wherein said first raised sideportion is on less than all of a top surface of said first base sideportion, and wherein said second raised side portion is on less than allof a top surface of said second base side portion.